Method and means for constructing forms for concrete



v R. TROST. METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTING FORMS FOR CONCRETE.APPLICATION FILED IJUNEB, 1921.

1 {-12% 1 66 Patented June 20, 1922 .m mwwe WO-KM W f l S RQBEB'I'T3051, SAN FRANCISCU, CALIFGRNIA.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTING FORMS FOR CONCRETE.

meat.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1922.

Application filed June 8, 1921. Serial 210. 475,886.

T 0 all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, ROBERT Tnos'r, a citizen of the United States, andresident of the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods andMeans for Constructing Forms for Concrete, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention refers more particularly to the method and means employedfor constructing wooden forms within which reinforced concrete is to bemolded and especially for the building of concrete walls wherein twowooden sides are supported in position in which it is desired to moldthe concrete, and when properly spaced apart form a space in which theconcrete is poured and allowed to set. It has heretofore been customarytohold said wooden forms in spaced relation by employing tie wiresthe'rebetween which tie wires are twisted within the said space and leftin place in the concrete after it has been molded between the said sidesand the sides removed. These wires, however, form no material part ofthe reinforcing material which must extend in planes at right angles tothe general direction of the said tie Wires. These tie wires remainingin the concrete cause leaks and rust stains which detract greatly fromthe appearance of the walls or buildings so constructed. In my inventionT-employ tie wires lying straight and which may be readily withdrawnfrom the concrete after it has set and when the forms are removed.

By referring to the accompanyin drawings my invention will be made c earFig. l is a perspective view of a palr of form sides between which aconcrete wall is to be formed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through a portion of said walls andwith one of the tie wires thereof shown in perspective.

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the tie wires.

Throughout the figures similar numerals refer to identical parts.

The form within which the concrete walls are to be molded is comprisedgenerally of two sides indicated in the figures bythe numerals 1, 2,respectively, formed. by boards tied together bystrut members t, 5,respectively, and the struts so formed are then held together by theposts 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively. The completed sides thus formed are thenset in position with spacing members 10 located at occasional intervals,

which spacing members are under compression when the forms are drawntogether by my tie wires. These tie wires I arrange asshown in detail inF igs. 2, 3. The wire being first formed of U shape, bent as shown in Fig..- 3 and holes being drilled through the sides 1 and 2 for said Wiresat 11, 12, 13, 14:, respectively. This work is preferably done by a bitor drill suiiiciently long to extend from one side across .the space andthrough both sides. The U shape Wire is then passed through the holes11, 12, embracing between its sides the strut 3 and member 6 and thencepassed over the strut 4 and member 8. In the member 8, I drive a wirenail or other circular pin 15 and twist both ends of the U wire whichnow project adjacent to said nail or pin around the nail and parallel toeach other and with the wraps of the two ends adjacent.

The U shape tie wire is formed of the two legs 16, 17, which areconnected together at one end at 18 and the ends of the sides 16, 17, Thave shown as 16 and 17, respectively. After giving one turn to thesetwo ends 16 and 17' around the pin 15 by hand to temporarily hold them,I clamp the ends as with suitable pliers, and wind them about the pin 15which latter they tightly grip as the winding proceeds and the pin mayat such times be turned with the wires. The result is a tight grippingtie which draws the sides 1 and 2 together against the spacing member 10which is now in compression, see Fig. 2. The sides 1 and 2 will now bespaced a proper distance apart to receive the concrete as determined bythe length of the spacing member 10. When the concrete has been placedbetween the sides 1 and 2 and has set or hardened, the legs 16, 17, maybe cut, preferably where they project through the wooden sides at 19,20, as with a cold chisel or pliers and the legs 16, 17, may then bewithdrawn by pulling on the tire wire from the opposite side of the saidcuts. The wire is then readily withdrawn from the concrete and afinished coat of neat cement or other suitable covering may be nowemployed to face the wall by troweling, cement gun or otherwise. Thiscompletely closes the holes which have been left in the wall by thewithdrawal of the wire 16, 17. The removal of the wires prevents ironstains showing on the surface after the wall has been weathered as isalways the case where the wires are left in the wall and out will shortwhere they come through. While I have shown no reinforcing bars in placewithinthe form, it is understoodthat they may 'be employed in the usualwell known We s.

it will be noted that my pin 15 forms in effect a capstan about whichthe wire is wound binding the wire ends tightly together and placing thelegs 16, 17, in sufii cient tension to hold the form sides rigid; theselegs have a straight pull, as distinguished from tie wires as heretoforeemployed wherein the wires are twisted throughout the portion which issubject to tension strains. The employment of my ties results in a morerigid holding of the form sides than heretofore. In employing the methodof my invention the form sides are first con structed and then set inplace which results in a very much cheaper and accurate formconstruction than where the forms are built up in their final positionboard by board and the tie wires placed during the assembling of theboards.

Other advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from a study ofmy specification and drawings.

I claim:

1. The method of constructing forms for reinforcing concrete comprisinga plurality of sides, which consists of first setting the built up sidesin position and then passing holding wires of U shape having twostraight legs through the said sides and twisting the parallel ends ofsaid wire around a member adapted to rotate and then clamping the twoends simultaneously and rotating them and the said member to wind thewire and cinch the sides in assembled position.

2. The method of building a reinforced concrete structure which consistsof preparing wall forms and binding them together as set forth in claim1, after which a cement mixture is placed between said Walls and allowedto harden, the wire legs are then cut close to the form and pulled outfrom the opposite side and forms removed, then a finish coat of cementor the like is applied over the concrete face whereby the holes left bywithdrawing the wires are plugged.

3. A tie for preparing forms for reinforced concretewhich tie consistsof wire bent sub stantially U shape adapted to pass around a truss onone side of the'i'orm and pass across the space between the form sidesand embrace a truss of the opposite side of the form, a pin in said lastnamed truss and said ends brought together and wound parallel to eachother and around said pin.

4. A tie for preparing forms for reinforced concrete which tie consistsof wire of substantially ttshape adapted to pass around a truss on oneside of the form and pass across the space between the form sides andembrace a truss of the opposite side of the form, a pin in said lastnamed truss and said ends brought together and wound parallel to eachother and around said pin, in combination fill with form sides andspacing members 10- cated at intervals between the said sides adapted tobe held in compression by said ties.

ROBERT TROST.

